JPH0312704B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Claim 1 A plurality of compartments arranged in a row, each compartment having a predetermined volume and having at least one
a plurality of predetermined volumes, each compartment having an upper open end and a lower closed end spaced from the upper end such that at least some of the compartments have different predetermined volumes; a layer of elastomeric material adjacent the upper open end for hermetically sealing the compartment; and a layer of elastomeric material mating with the upper open end connectable to the compartment adjacent the upper open end. a cover including a plurality of access ports provided in the compartment, the cover being capable of inserting a probe into each predetermined volume through each port and the layer of elastomeric material; and a plurality of level lines spaced a predetermined distance from said upper open end such that at least some of the level lines are spaced different distances from said lower closed end. Container for.

2. The plurality of level lines include an upper level indicator and a lower level indicator provided in each compartment,
A container for comparative testing of sample substances according to claim 1.

3. The container for comparative testing of sample substances according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined volume is different for each compartment.

4. The layer of elastomeric material is disposed proximate the cover, and a protective layer is disposed between the layer of elastomeric material and the upper open end of the compartment. Container for comparative testing of the sample substances listed.

5. Container for comparative testing of sample materials according to claim 4, wherein the protective layer comprises a plastic-coated metal foil layer.

6. A unitary structure comprising at least four tubular compartments connected in a single row, each compartment having the same cross-sectional area, each compartment having an upper open end and at least three compartments. a unit structure comprising a lower closed end placed from said upper open end at a varying distance such that the chamber has a volume that continuously increases or decreases as compared to other compartments that are control compartments; a layer of elastomeric material disposed on said upper open end for sealing each compartment from adjacent compartments and from outside air; and a protective layer disposed between said upper open end and said layer of elastomeric material. a cover connectable to the compartment near the upper open end and cooperating with the upper open end of the compartment to position and compress the layer of elastomeric material and the protective layer; one access port for each compartment, the access port mating with the corresponding upper open end allowing the probe to be inserted into the compartment through the layer of elastomeric material and the protective layer; a cover comprising a level line in the compartment, the level line being a predetermined distance from the upper open end such that at least some of the level lines are at different distances from the lower closed end; Containers for comparative testing of sample materials, including:

7. The container for comparative testing of sample substances according to claim 6, wherein the level line includes an upper level mark and a lower level mark provided in each compartment.

8. Container for comparative testing of sample materials according to claim 6, wherein the protective layer comprises a layer of plastic-coated metal foil.

Description The present invention relates to the technical field of sample test containers.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a container that allows for side-by-side comparison of physical characteristics of sample materials. Still other features include, but are not limited to, a plurality of compartments and an airtight seal at one end designed to permit penetration of a probe to inject sample material into the compartments. Including stickers.

Hyaline membrane disease may be caused by insufficient synthesis of substances that lower surface tension (surfactants) in the lungs. Neonatal hyaline membrane disease accounts for the majority of infant deaths. Fetal lung maturity testing was conducted on November 11, 1980. E. No. 4,233,032 to Stadtland et al. This patent discloses a simple and rapid test with easily understandable results. The test involves mixing a predetermined amount of amniotic fluid with graded amounts of 95% ethanol in water. All vials are shaken in a reproducible manner to reveal the highest volume of ethanol that exhibits stable foam.

In order to properly perform the above-described test, it is necessary to shake the amniotic fluid mixture extremely vigorously. The graded amounts of ethanol give a series of results indicative of lung maturity. If multiple separate vials are used, the amount of shaking needs to be monitored to ensure that all vials are shaken equally. Furthermore, since precise amounts of amniotic fluid and ethanol are required, to ensure that the correct amounts of these substances are injected into the vial,
Extreme care must be taken. Furthermore, to accurately determine lung maturity, the amount of foam in each vial must be compared to that in other vials. If separate vials are used, it is difficult to compare them side by side.

The present invention is a container that includes a plurality of compartments and allows for side-by-side comparisons of the physical characteristics of substances contained in the compartments. The container cooperates with the cover to provide a liquid-tight and air-tight seal.
The cover is configured to allow injection of sample material into the compartment without disrupting the seal. To ensure that accurate amounts of the various substances are introduced into the compartment, the compartment is provided with a plurality of level lines.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the container with the cover removed.
3 is a plan view of the container showing the cover, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container containing a plurality of compartments 11-17. Cover 18 is compartment 1
1 to 17. A plurality of openings 19 for probes are provided in the cover 18. A plurality of lower level markers 21 and upper level markers 22 are provided in each compartment 11-17, preferably as imprints on the walls of each compartment 11-17. A test liquid such as ethanol is placed in compartment 11~
It is stored at 16. A control solution containing ethanol is stored in compartment 17. Referring to FIG. 2, a side view of compartments 11-17 is shown. Each compartment 11-17 includes an open end 24 and a closed end 25, the closed end being the compartment 11-1.
7 to define a predetermined volume within each compartment 11-17. The projecting ribs 26 of each compartment 11-17 cooperate with the cover 18 to secure it over the compartments 11-17. Referring to Figure 3,
A top view of the container shown in FIG. 1 is shown. An access port 19 is shown in the cover 18. Referring to FIG. 4, a side cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3 is shown. An access port 19 for the cover 18 is shown. The ridges 27 cooperate with projecting ribs 26 (FIG. 2) to secure the cover 18 in the compartments 11-17. Referring to FIG. 5, a side cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3 is shown. The entrance/exit 19 of the cover 18 is the compartment 1
5 is located close to the open end 24 of 5. An elastic or self-sealing layer comprising a lamina 28 of elastomeric material such as silicone rubber and a protective layer comprising a metal foil layer 29 cover the cover 18 compartment 1.
5 and the open end 24 of 5. Fetal lung maturity testing, such as that described in previously referenced US Pat. No. 4,233,032, can be performed using the containers of the invention described herein. Referring to FIG. 1, liquid 23 (which may be ethanol) is introduced into compartments 11-16 to the desired level. The compartment 17 used for the control test is filled to the upper level mark 22 with a control solution containing some ethanol. Compartments 11 to 16 are
Fill to the lower level mark 21 with ethanol.
The closed ends 24 of compartments 11-16 are connected to compartments 11-1.
Different amounts of ethanol are contained in each compartment due to the different distances from the open end of 6.

The cover 18 engages the compartment by the interaction of the projecting ribs 26 and the ridges 27. cover 1
8 and compartments 11-17 includes a protective layer 29 and a layer of elastomer 28. That is, a strip of metal foil covered with a layer of plastic is placed proximate the open end 24, and then a layer 28 of elastomer is placed thereon. The purpose of the protective layer 29 is to prevent the ethanol or other substances within the compartment from degrading the elastomeric layer 28.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the cover 18 is secured over the compartments 11-17, the protective layer 29
and elastomer layer 28 is held in place. The access port 19 of the cover 18 is located above the open end 24 of the compartment 15.

When performing the above test, the probe is placed in compartment 1.
1 to 17. That is, the probe is inserted into the opening 1 of the cover 18.
It is inserted through 9. The probe penetrates the elastomeric layer 28 and the protective layer 29 such that the tip of the probe is inside the volume defined by the compartments 11-17. Amniotic fluid or other material is then injected into the compartment to the desired level.
Preferably, an upper level indicator 22 provides an indication of the desired level of amniotic fluid to be added to each compartment. Since the distance between the lower level mark 21 and the upper level mark 22 is the same in each compartment 11 to 16,
The level of amniotic fluid added to each compartment will be the same. However, because the distance between the closed end 24 and the lower level indicator 21 in each compartment 11-16 is different, the amount of ethanol contained in each compartment is different. Thus, in each compartment, the same amount of amniotic fluid is combined with a different amount of ethanol. When the probe is withdrawn from the access port 19, the elastomeric layer 28 seals due to the physical properties of the material. That is, withdrawal of the probe from the elastomer layer 28 causes expansion of the layer into the hole created by penetration of the probe. On the other hand, protective layer 2
9 is not resealed and contact of the sample fluid to the elastomeric layer 28 is acceptable for the relatively short time required to perform the test. Therefore,
The protective layer 29 is such that the ethanol is contained in the compartments 11 to 1.
Its function is to protect the elastomeric layer 28 during the period of storage contained in the elastomer layer 7. The elastic force of the elastomeric layer 28 also causes continuous contact with the probe as it is withdrawn.
This contact serves to wipe excess amniotic fluid from the tip of the probe as it is withdrawn.

Referring to Figure 1, amniotic fluid is contained in compartments 11-16.
Once the upper level indicator 22 has been added, the test can begin. That is, a fluid-tight seal is maintained between the sample liquid in compartments 11-17 and the outside atmosphere. It is therefore possible to shake vigorously to carry out the test correctly without running the risk of contaminating one compartment with the next or contaminating the compartment with the outside atmosphere. Since the compartments 11-17 are arranged close to each other and in parallel, it is possible to compare the amount of foam produced in each compartment with each of the other compartments. Therefore, the relative amount of bubbles can be determined accurately.
This makes it possible to determine the maturity of the fetal lungs, as described in the above-referenced patent specification. The use of graduated closures 24 for each compartment allows for comparison without the need for measurements of the amount of foam produced in each compartment. That is, if the compartments are separate, they must be placed somewhere parallel on the same level for comparison of the amount of foam.
Furthermore, because the closed end is graduated, different amounts of ethanol 23 can be introduced while maintaining a level equal to the lower level mark 21. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
is shown together with the control liquid partially containing ethanol 23 filled up to the upper level mark 22. This is due to the reason that compartment 17 is used as a control room. By using an elastomeric seal 28 that allows resealing, the sample liquid can be introduced into the compartment without the need to remove the cover 18. This allows the cover 18 to be reliably coupled to the compartment so that the integrity of the liquid-tight seal is maintained at all times. This sealing mechanism allows ethanol 23 to be added at the factory prior to shipping, thus ensuring more accurate volume control.

Although particular forms of the invention have been disclosed with respect to particular embodiments thereof, changes and modifications within the intended scope of the invention are limited as defined by the appended claims. It's not a thing.
For example, silicone rubber may be used as the elastomer layer 28.
Although disclosed as elastomer, it will be clearly understood that any type of elastomer can be used.
Furthermore, the protective layer 29 can be other than a plastic-covered foil. Furthermore, other than the protruding ribs 26 and ridges 27 used in the invention, any coupling scheme for the cover 18 and the compartments 11-17 can be used. Additionally, an upper level indicator 22 and a lower level indicator 2
Although one was used in the present invention, it will be readily appreciated that more or fewer level indicators can be used depending on the type and quantity of sample liquid being tested.